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Town in Mondulkiri, Cambodia
Photo: Travelpleb, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Sen Monorom is the capital of Mondulkiri Province in Eastern Cambodia.
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A bare mountain not far from Sen Monorom that has great views of the surrounding landscape. Vietnam, jungle, and other provinces can be seen from the top.
A small part of the market is obvious from the paved road entering town, but taking an alleyway reveals a small maze of wooden shacks and stalls full of fresh food and other goods. It is busy in the morning and a good place to get cheap food.
It is possible to rent mountain bikes, motorbikes (US$8 a day), and dirt bikes in the city and these can be acquired at The Greenhouse (talk to Sam Sang), Holiday Guesthouse, Happy Elephant Bungalows, and Sovankiri Guesthouse. The guide who works at "The Middle of Somewhere" is an old Khmer Rouge soldier, and he has a sterling reputation for getting people off the beaten track to places where tourists rarely go.
Two large waterfalls, one below the other. They are both impressive, especially in the rainy season. The first is 30 m in height and the second is 40 m. You can walk up to both waterfalls and swim and go behind them depending on the season. There is a path that goes around the waterfalls that is about 1 km. Local native costumes can be rented for a dollar and a picture taken for a dollar as well.
It is possible to spend a day and/or night at the Elephant Valley Project where you will be able to see how this NGO takes local sick and abused elephants and reintroduces them to their natural habitat. You cannot ride them, but can walk with them as they graze the forest and grasslands. An alternative to the more normal Asian practice of riding elephants, these mahouts do not ride or beat their elephants, but guide them through the day's routines with an impressive display of voice commands.
You can join many available tours which are sold by the majority of the guesthouses in Sen Monorom. Most take you to see the Bunong Hill tribe villages in the small surrounding villages including the province's many waterfalls. You can also go hiking in the surrounding forests, but sadly there is not much left due to rampant logging. Do not expect to see any large animals as poaching is widespread. With that said, most animals come out at night and a night of trekking can be arranged, which has been said to have plenty of wildlife sightings.
Trekking, elephant sanctuary,
This is a not-for-profit venture aiming to protect forests from logging, has established an elephant sanctuary with five rescued elephants. Their one-day elephant adventure tour allows you to feed, touch, walk with and swim with elephants at a waterfall in the jungle. No elephant riding. They employ Bunong Indigenous guides and work to improve the lives of poor, elderly Bunong people. To generate revenue they arrange one- and two-day elephant encounters and jungle treks.
Wildlife, Waterfalls & Culture Experience
Professional local tour guiding services and sustainable eco-tours in Mondulkiri. Established and led by experienced local guides since 2010, the agency specializes in jungle trekking adventures, waterfalls, ethical wildlife observation including non-riding elephant tours and gibbon tracking, and immersive cultural visits to traditional Bunong indigenous villages.
Khmer food and Western drinks such as apple or fresh passionfruit juice. Teenagers serving the tables (chance for a Khmer lesson, which they enjoy giving). Jungle trekking and elephant observation with experienced indigenous Bunong guides. Motorbike rentals.
The staff don't speak much English but there's an English menu. Some locals eat here. The food is very good, served with complimentary tea and sometimes bananas also.
Real name unknown, the sign is written in Khmer. Good place for breakfast, only locals hang out here. Sport plays on a TV. They do rice and good noodle soup. Most of the staff don't speak English but you can mime.
A few stalls do rice with pork, chicken or egg. Tasty and cheap. There's also an enclosed diner.
These places exist all over Cambodia. Locals hang out and watch Chinese & Hollywood films with dubs and/or subs. Sen Monorom has three all together where you can sit on a deck chair and drink iced coffee, tea, or other sweet drinks. There's a Vietnamese one where the ice coffee costs 35 cents. Minimal English.
Bungalows and tree houses available, with or without private bath. Set in beautiful countryside about 10 min away from the main part of town; ask for a pick-up. Treks and tours can be booked at the front desk. There's a nice restaurant and bar as well.
Tree Lodge Bungalows is a small family place of Tree and his wife. Tree's lodge is a nice and quiet place in the middle of the jungle around Sen Monorom (20 minutes to the centre and bus station by walking). Bungalows with hot or cold shower. Good restaurant and common area with great views of nature.
Luxury resort with 42 villas, of which 24 are private; 60 rooms. On a hill overlooking a lake and greenery. Tours and cooking classes. Swimming pool, meeting hall, restaurant. An electric car for guests. Organises events, such as wedding parties, on the premises on request.
An eco-lodge in a natural sanctuary approximately 9 km from Sen Monorom. Set against the backdrop of the surrounding forest, it features private eco-bungalooms designed for travelers seeking peace and nature immersion. The lodge offers authentic community-based homestay experiences in the historic Pu Tang Village, allowing visitors to engage with the local Bunong indigenous culture, share traditional meals, and experience local hospitality. Led by experienced local guides providing sustainable wildlife and trekking tours.
From Phnom Penh: vans and buses take one hour to get through the Phnom Penh traffic before they hit the open road, so leaving at night or very early morning has its pluses.
Read in the guideThe centre of Sen Monorom is quite small and can be explored on foot, but a bicycle can also be a lot of fun. However, if you want to venture off into the forest then the easiest way to get around is on a motorbike.
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